The differences between America's top special operators

The US military's special operators are the most elite in the world.

Depending on the unit, special operators are charged with a variety of missions: counterterrorism, direct action (small raids and ambushes), unconventional warfare (supporting resistance against a government), hostage rescue and recovery, special reconnaissance (reconnaissance that avoids contact behind enemy lines), and more.

They're also very secretive.

As such, it can be difficult to tell certain operators apart, especially since most units wear the standard fatigues within their military branch — and sometimes they don't wear uniforms at all to disguise themselves.

So, we found out how to tell six of the most elite special operators apart.

Check them out below.

1. Army Rangers.

The yellow Ranger tab can be seen above.

(US Army photo)

The 75th Ranger Regiment "is the Army's premier direct-action raid force," according to the Rangers.

Consisting of four battalions, their "capabilities include conducting airborne and air assault operations, seizing key terrain such as airfields, destroying strategic facilities, and capturing or killing enemies of the nation."

They wear the same fatigues as regular soldiers, but there's some ways to distinguish them.

The first sign is the yellow Ranger tab on the shoulder (seen above), which they receive after graduating from Ranger school. But this tab alone does not mean they're a member of the Army's special operations regiment.

Soldiers don't actually become 75th Ranger Regiment special operators until they finish the eight-week Ranger Assessment and Selection Program.

The black Ranger scroll can be seen on the left arm of the Ranger, right.

(75th Ranger Regiment documentation specialist)

After finishing the Ranger Assessment and Selection Program, they receive a tan beret and black Ranger scroll (seen on the Rangers left arm above) and are now official members of the 75th Ranger Regiment.

Read more about Ranger school here and Ranger Assessment and Selection Program here.

2. Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command (MARSOC).

The Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command emblem.

Founded in February 2006, MARSOC operators are rather new.

Consisting of three battalions, MARSOC operators conduct "foreign internal defense, special reconnaissance, and direct action," according to MARSOC.

3. Air Force Pararescue specialists (PJs).

A PJ patch can be seen on the operator's shoulder.

(US Air Force photo)

PJs "rescue and recover downed aircrews from hostile or otherwise unreachable areas," according to the Air Force.

Consisting of about 500 airmen, these "highly trained experts perform rescues in every type of terrain and partake in every part of the mission, from search and rescue, to combat support to providing emergency medical treatment, in order to ensure that every mission is a successful one."

And there's three ways to distinguish PJs from other airmen.

The first, is the PJ patch seen on the shoulder of the operator above.

In garrison, they also wear these field badges on their uniforms, Erica Vega, a spokeswoman for Air Combat Command Public Affairs, told Business Insider.

(US Air Force photo)

PJs wear these maroon berets with the career badge in garrison too, Vega said.

(US Air Force photo)

4. Army Special Forces.

The Army's Special Forces only wear their green berets at military installations in the US.

(US Army photo)

To be clear, the US Army's Special Forces are the only special forces. Rangers, PJs, MARSOC — these are special operators, not special forces.

The US Army's Special Forces are known to the public as Green Berets — but they call themselves the quiet professionals.

Like many operator units, they wear the same Army fatigues as regular soldiers (you can read more about the current and past Army uniforms here), but there are three ways in which you can distinguish them.

One, is the green beret seen above, which they only wear at military installations in the US, and never while deployed abroad.

5. Navy SEALs.

The Navy's Sea, Air and Land Forces, or SEALs, were established by President John F. Kennedy in 1962.

Working in small, tightly knit units, SEAL missions vary from direct-action warfare, special reconnaissance, counterterrorism, and foreign-internal defense, according to the Navy.

SEALs also go through more than 12 months of initial training at Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL school and SEAL Qualification Training, as well as roughly 18 months of pre-deployment training.

And there are two ways to tell SEALs apart from other sailors.

The first is the SEAL trident seen above, which is an eagle clutching an anchor, trident, and pistol. The insignia is worn on the breast of their uniform.

The other is their uniforms.

Only SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewman wear the Type II Navy Working Uniform.

(US Navy photo)

Only SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant Craft Crewman wear the Type II Navy Working Uniform.

A Type II uniform is a "desert digital camouflage uniform of four colors ... worn by Special Warfare Operators, sailors who support them, and select NECC units," according to the Navy.

6. Delta Force.

The Army's 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta, or Delta Force, is perhaps the US military's most secretive unit.

A United States Special Operations Command public affairs officer told Business Insider that they do not discuss Delta Force operators, despite providing information about other special operator units.

"We are very strict with our quiet professionalism," a former Delta operator previously told We Are The Mighty. "If someone talks, you will probably be blacklisted."

Formed in 1977, Delta operators perform a variety of missions, including counterterrorism (specifically to kill or capture high-value targets), direct action, hostage rescues, covert missions with the CIA, and more.

Both units have the most sophisticated equipment and are highly trained in Close Quarters Combat (CQB), hostage rescue, high-value-target extraction, and other specialized operations. The difference is the extensive training SEALs receive in specialized maritime operations, given their naval heritage.

"Each unit has strengths and weaknesses, neither is better or worse," the former Delta operator said.

This article originally appeared on Business Insider. Follow @BusinessInsider on Twitter.